Review of Diaspora, Displacement, Dislocation

There was a great variety of performances in last week's class.

Jennifer Sommerstein showed a video featuring herself and two classmates in which their voices were exchanged with each other. Jennifer spoke with a male voice and Ben spoke with a female voice. The scene was spent trying to correct this problem. The displacement of voice raised questions of gender normality and identity.

Skunk entered the room wearing a Star Wars mask and long white underwear in which he stuffed many styrofoam balls. He removed the mask to reveal a freshly shaven head, and proceeded to remove the styrofoam balls from his underwear. After this was done, he sat down and started to pick his nose as he read Tagalog from a manuscript. Skunk said later that he was describing his surroundings and what was going on. This piece to me spoke about the displaced social oddity, and the exclusivity of language.

Martina wrapped her head, blindfolding and masking herself as she typed her stream of consciousness onto a laptop, which was projected onto her face, casting a shadow on the wall. This piece to me spoke about the feelings and instincts of the invisible and unspoken for minority.

Princess Genevieve, Anna, and Grant showed a video in which they built an impromptu shelter out of scraps of wood, discarded furniture, and other debris. To me, it spoke about the displacement of the homeless, and their dislocation to the fringes of society.

Derya showed documentary footage about Satanic cults. Because of their subversion against society, and their immoral code, they are forced (or perhaps choose) to operate, and conduct their rituals underground. This is interesting to me because I believe the displaced people who choose to join such cults do so out of a sense of rejection from society, and rebel against its norms out of resentment.